PG suffers from overplanting and over-marketing. but try some of the friuliano ones and you'll be really surprised. it can be a great wine.

no, I agree about some of the friuliano ones and also the Alto Adige. My mother's 'house wine' is a $14 PG from Alto A. that is very nice.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Manton

The worst QPR wine in the entire world is Santa Margherita PG. Costs $27, drinks like $7.

inorite? In your words, I think it's a source of envy and pride to Italian whites - pride because it's one of Italy's most successful brands and really helped to put the on the map in the American market, and envy because people are amazed that they can get away with charging that much.

i'm with my little round buddy on this one. but we may be talking at cross-purposes. Are California wines generally a good bargain? no. But are there good bargains in California? Sure. And are those bargains usually blends? I think so.

I agree with this. There are some good cheap blends from CA and what generally makes them good is that they aren't "California-ized" what with wood chip treatments, etc. I remember when BV Rutherford was $12 and was an awesome wine, along with Beringer Knights Valley, and Mondavi Napa. All were solid, well made wines that were great expressions of Napa cab without being oaked to death, or with 16% alcohol. Ahh, those were the good old days. These days when I'm looking for value, I look to Italy and France.

I've been getting a lot of mileage out of cheap New Zealand Sauv Blancs, especially in warm weather (which I had tonight with my wine in Dallas). There is a strong family resemblance from bottle to bottle -they all seem to taste of green apple and fresh dill.

You should also try their Pinot Noir, Otargo region ones are drinking very well at present.

Myself had a bottle of Bay of Fires Tasmanian Pinot Noir, last night wonderful on the palate a gem to drink.

Gravel Pit Shiraz Viognier not too plumby or jammy as I have found some S/V of late, very easy drinking wine with a lot of depth, good back palate. Other wise Laughing Magpie a consistently good S/V.